Process of aging liquors



(No Model.)

E. A. SPINK.

PROCESS 0F AGING LIQUORS. N0. 489,337. Patented Jan. 3, 1893.

EEEBBENHEIB Q W I.

W/T/VESSES /NVENTH A TTOHNE YS A the liquor upon the shavings.

UNITED lSTATES PATENT OFFICE,

EUGENEA. SPINK, OF CHICAGO', ILLINOIS.

PROCESS OF AGING LIQUORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 489,337, dated-January 3, 1893.4 Application led April I9, 1892. Serial No. 429.795. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern.: I

Beit known that l, EUGENE A. SPINK, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Pro-\ cess of AgingLiquors, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective process of transforming and eliminating the fusel oil from spirituous liquors, thereby imparting to the liquor the smoothness and bland qualities of age.

It consists in distributing t-he liquor over a great superficial area by means of shaviugs or other similarsubstance in a receiver, then continuously forcing air by means of a pump or blower through the same, and atthe same time condensing the expelled vapors and returning the condensed liquor to the receiver, whereby the fusel oil is transformed by oxidation wiihous loss of any of the liquor, and the requisite age is imparted to the same, rendering it smooth and palatable and free from the injurious effects of fusel oil.

The figure is a side view of an apparatus for carrying out my process. I

A are the receivers which are made of wood, a'nd areconstructed with a false bottom a upon which are placed a mass of shavings b preferably of the wood known as beech. On top of the shavings is placed aperforated diaphragm c for more evenly distributing On top of each receiver is a stationary iillingaud measuring cup F, having in its bottom an orifice opening into the receiver closed by a plug g hava stem by liftingr which the contents of the cup may be transferred to theinterior of the receiver. This cup is of a capacity adapted to charge each receiver sufficiently with liquor. Opening into thereceivers below the false bottom and through separate stop cocksv are a series of air pipes B2 communicating with a pipe B extending to an air pump B, or to a rotary blower, or other air forcing device. Emerging from vthe tops of the receivers are vertical pipes .C2 communicating with a main collecting pipe C from which a pipe C leads to a tank D located at some con venient point above and which pipe C dips down into the same nearly to the bottom. From the bottom of the tank D there extends a return pipe E forifthe condensed liquor which communicates with a distributing pipe E' which has nozzles e immediately above each one of the filling cups of the receivers.

When the apparatus is in action, its operation is as follows. 'lhe receivers each being provided with its 'quantity of shavings, and its charge of raw liquor containing any per cent. of alcohol, and a quantity of liquor being placed in tank D suiicient to form a liquid seal to pipe C, the air forcing device is set in action, and air is made to pass slowly but positively up through the shavings for oxidizing the fusel oil and transforming it into other and harmless compounds, which proceeds with a regular and rapid eEect. This positive movement causes the vapors to issue from thc receivers, and passing through pipes C2 G and C are condensed in the tank D lbeneath the liquid seal of the lliquor as rapidly as ity condeuses, and this liquor is from time to time drawn off and readmitted to the receivers through `pipes E E and nozzles e and is again subjected to the oxidizing effect as often as may be required. The aged liquor is drawn 0R at4 the discharge outlets h.

By means of the forced circulation of air, it will be seen that the oxidizing effect is facilitated or quickened, and the vapors are made to pass down beneath the liquid seal in tank D and be condensed while the air escapes in bubbles.

I may use other materials for affording surface besides shavings such as corn cobs, Sponges or excelsior and may also. find it desirable to warm the air to about '90" before admitting it' to the receivers.

/Having thus described my invention,`what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

The process herein described of aging alcoholic liquors which consists in allowing the liquor to slowly percolate through a mass 'of wood shavings or equivalent material as described, forcing a current of air through the saturated shavings, condensing the vapors under a liquid seal of the condensed liquor, and returing the latter to the shaviugs again substantially as shown and described.

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